Can Love Cure a Headache?

Oct 18, 2010 3 Comments »

Men and women across the globe spend their lives searching for love in hopes of companionship, excitement, family, happily-ever-after, sex, security and even status. But now science suggests that love also has the power to ease physical aches and pains. A study has found that being in love activates the reward centres of the brain — the same regions impacted by painkiller drugs.

The research out of Stanford University tested pain levels of men and women by applying heat to the palm of their hands. Looking at photos of their lovers significantly reduced their experience of pain and MRI scans connected this love-induced analgesia to activity in the area of the brain associated with addiction to painkillers, cocaine, and other drugs.

“This tells us that you don’t have to just rely on drugs for pain relief,” explains researcher, Dr. Arthur Aron. “People are feeling intense rewards without the side effects of drugs.”

And though big pharma isn’t about to roll over in favour of love-therapy anytime soon, these findings offer support and encouragement to all the hopeless romantics out there. Not only does it relieve pain, but love of all sorts (not just the mushy romantic kind) has also been linked to improved cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol, strengthened immune system and a longer life. And you don’t want to get me started on the health benefits of sex…

So go ahead and indulge: look for love, fall in love and heed Ke$ha’s advice and make love your drug.

Until Next Time,

Dr. Jessica O’Reilly

Dr. Jessica O’Reilly is a board-certified sexologist committed to helping clients enjoy healthy, pleasurable sex lives. She loves her work (obviously!) and splits her time between public speaking engagements, freelance writing, program development and consulting in the field of sexual health. Learn more about Jessica at www.jessicaoreilly.com

How To Be The Best Single Ever

Oct 14, 2010 2 Comments »

Being single is very comparable to being like Paul Revere. In many cases, you are charging head first into unknown territory, heart racing, adrenal pumping, and ultimate destination sometimes a risky trail. However, if you can be as bold as Mr. Revere you have a good chance at being the best single ever.

Understandably elevating yourself to such a high standard doesn’t seem easy, but as a successful single you must realize being the best is actually as easy as New Orleans. Just follow my four steps and you’ll be hanging your blue ribbon for best in show in no time at all.

1. Have No Fear

Being single can sometimes be overwhelming and it’s not always easy to attend single events flying solo. However, like the laws of nature you must show no fear in order to survive. Being single is fun and you should embrace every solo moment with excitement and wonder of the unknown. Fear is for armatures so in order to be the best single ever you must have confidence to attend events and enjoy the opportunity of meeting new people.

2. Have Pride In Yourself

Paul Revere was nothing more than a low-end silversmith, but what Paul had that can not be measured in gold was pride in himself. From a dirty old work shop this fellow rose to be a hero in the Revolutionary War. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mailman or a millionaire, what matters is how you hold yourself and believe in yourself. Being the best single ever means having pride in whatever it is that you do. Never compare yourself to those around you only strive to have pride and to be the best that you personally can be.

3. Take The “Midnight Ride”

Like the famous ride in the dark by the patriot Mr. Revere, you must dive head first into events that may be out of your comfort zone. Nothing says, “I’m the best single ever” better than a single who is willing to try new things. Forget the casual cozy corner coffee shop and try something a bit more risk taking. It worked out for our friend Paul and it most certainly will work out for you as well. Being the best single ever means taking that midnight ride into the unknown with no fear and pride by your side.

4. Always Go For Great

Greatness is an attribute that can’t be bought or sold. It is simply part of your being or not. In order to be the best single ever you must always strive for greatness and the best way to start is by being great in front of your peers. Next time you attend a single event shoot for greatness and you’ll be surprised how successful people will flock to your side. Being great is all about your state of mind, how you present yourself, and how you treat others. Pair this with a great set of pants and a winning smile and you’ll most certainly be the best single ever!

Until Next Time,

Kim Ward

Kim Ward is a relationship advice expert. She is the sole author and editor of the website http://www.chickgab.com.

Gratitude: Stop and Smell the Pumpkin Pie

Oct 13, 2010 1 Comment »

Gratitude is part of a natural evolution. When we truly embrace the concept that there is treasure in everything, when we fully trust ourselves to always be at the right place at the right time, when we accept that we are in charge of our lives—then being grateful in all circumstances and to everyone, including ourselves, is easy.

Gratitude is not just an attitude; it is a stance, a way of being and thinking that requires practice. A metaphor for gratitude is the old proverb, “stop and smell the roses,” which, considering the fall timing of this article, I have adapted to “stop and smell the pumpkin pie.” How perfect, thinking of gratitude with Thanksgiving around the corner. When we slow down and smell the pumpkin pie, we are taking the time to appreciate who and what is on our path, who we are and what we do. What if, instead of forgetting to “smell the pie” in our busy plan, we made it a priority on our life journey to move at a pace where the details—the smell of pie, the smell of the roses—could be appreciated?

Practice Makes Perfect

Learn the good habit of slowing down, and make it a conscious practice to express your gratitude and appreciation until it becomes natural. By this time in your life, you will no doubt acknowledge that relationships are the most enriching way to personal growth. Taking the time to let people know how much you value them for who they are and what they do has great rewards. It opens your heart and theirs and deepens your connections—all of which has a ripple effect.

Make the decision that being grateful and appreciative will improve your life, and then design a ritual—a precise, regularly repeated activity—to support you as you slow down and continue to smell the roses when pie season is over.

As an entrepreneur, every Friday, for example, you might take a few minutes to sum up the week:

· What worked for you and what didn’t?
· What do you want to carry over to next week?
· What do you need to complete?

By assessing the week, consciously acknowledging both the events that went well and those that were more challenging and then letting them go, you energetically become better prepared for the week to come. Reach out weekly to the people who have supported you—family, friends, colleagues—to let them know how important they have been to you and your world will expand your life experience both in the moment and beyond. And it will attract more to be grateful for, because … what you focus on grows!

You might want to buy flowers (even jut one flower!) on the way home every Friday to celebrate yourself and the end of another week and to symbolically shift to the relaxation and enjoyment of the weekend. What plans have you made to recharge and honour yourself and your loved ones?

Until Next Time,

Monica Magnetti
www.meetmarketadventures.com/singlesdatingblog/contributors/
Life/Business & Brand Consultant
Author of 30 DAYS TO A NEW YOU: Get What You Want Through Authentic Change

Give A Great Compliment

Oct 12, 2010 3 Comments »

Most of us know when we have received an insincere compliment. We also know that giving compliments can be tricky.

How can you give a sincere sounding compliment without being overly enthusiastic? If you do not know how to comfortably do this, you risk coming off as fake and the other person is not likely to appreciate it.

Sheila an expert on East Indian Dating suggests “Even if you meant what you said as a positive, a poorly timed or overly “gushy” compliment will be perceived as insincere. It is almost better to not compliment someone at all if you have not learned how to do it properly.”

The Elements of a Sincere Compliment

• Timing. If you work closely with someone and see them on a daily basis you should give the compliment as soon as you are aware of their achievement or recognition. If you do not see your co-worker on a daily basis it is alright to take a couple of days to compliment their achievement.

• Audience. Never give a compliment unless there is someone else around to hear you give it. This way the person receiving the compliment is more likely to believe you are sincere since you have spoken in a positive way about them in front of others. Another way to do this is to send a written note or email congratulating them on their success.

• Tone. Your tone is important as well. Keep your compliment simple and warm but do not gush and go on and on. For instance, your co-worker has been working on a big project and gotten a promotion. When the time is right and there are several others around, simply make a point of giving them a warm smile and say “congratulations, I hear you really did a great job”. Shake hands or give a pat on the back. Your tone is appreciative of their recognition but not overly enthusiastic.

The worst thing you can do is compliment someone on something that is obviously untrue. Avoid compliments about personal things like weight or appearance.

Opt for simple compliments on things like the quality of a person’s work or if it is a social situation, how nice it has been to enjoy a great conversation with someone. Learning how to give a sincere compliment can help you at work and in your personal life. The best compliment is one that comes naturally.

For more advice on Indian Dating Tips visit www.indiandatingtoday.com

Are You Living The Life You Are Meant To Be Living?

Oct 12, 2010 No Comments »

Here is a rather quick exercise which will tell you if you are living your life according to the person you want to be.

Make a list of your top 5 priorities (examples are love life, career, friends etc..). Then for a week track how many hours/week you devote to each of your priorities. If you are not spending your time according to what is most important to you, it may be time to make some real changes in your life.

Until Next Time,

Tracey L. Steinberg, Esq.
Life Coach and Dating Expert
www.LifeCoachTracey.com